Sunday, December 29, 2019

Jefferson vs. Macheveli - 1719 Words

Thomas Jefferson and Niccolo Machiavelli share similar and different thoughts on how a government should run. On how the government should function. From the rule of the government the rule of the people. However Machiavellis essay is more cynical, while on the other hand Jefferson is more logical. We might live in a Machiavellian world but it all depends on what people believe in. Personally I believe that Machiavellis philosophy is cynical compared to Jefferson, Therefore I believe more in Jeffersons piece which is far more realistic although Machiavelli still catches realism in the world we live today. Ã¢â¬Å"We hold these truths to be sacred amp; undeniable; that all mean are created equal....Ã¢â¬  One of Thomas Jeffersons examples ofÃ¢â¬ ¦show more contentÃ¢â¬ ¦Machiavelli also presents the idea that the power of a leader depends more on the qualities of the man than on of god. Thats the matter, loved and feared-qualities need there limits the same way as anything else in a social relation. Machiavelli himself stating that a man who makes himself loved than who makes himself feared; the reason is that love is a link to obligation, which men, because they are rotten, and will break any time soon. Machiavelli complicates the nation of good as purely subordinate power, arguing that the excess of Ã¢â¬Å"goodÃ¢â¬  can actually do harm. In this case too much clemency can lead to uprisings and civil war. Cruelty what Machiavelli believes in, states that it can serve the greater good. I personally disagree with Machiavellis text, I think love is stronger than fear. A commander loved by his soldiers will defeat a commander feared by his soldiers in almost all battles, but the feared commander is less subject to arbitrary chance. Its not only love that can destroy a man, so can fear. Ã¢â¬Å"For its a good general rule about men, that they are ungrateful, fickle liars, and deceivers, fearful of danger, and the greedy for gainÃ¢â¬  Machiavelli stated. To me th is really caught my attention, because it reminded me of this years presidential election, between Romney and President Barack Obama. How in the debate, a lot of people and including myself over heard lies about both Romney and the President. Romney